2023 Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities School for You
In 2020-2021, 556,813 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received a degree or certificate, making the major the #3 most popular in the country.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 172 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
Top 25 Best Great Lakes Region Schools for Affordable Quality in Liberal Arts & Humanities
Our 2023 rankings named University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex the best value school in the Great Lakes Region for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, UWM Flexible Option is a public school with a fairly small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at UWM Flexible Option are $6,750 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from UWM Flexible Option carry an average student debtload of $11,000.
Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Flex Report
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The excellent programs at Oakland Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools in the Great Lakes Region . Oakland Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Bloomfield Hills.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oakland Community College are $5,200 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Oakland Community College take out $12,585 in student loans while working on their degree.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Wayne County Community College District. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Detroit, WCCCD is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WCCCD are $3,998 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from WCCCD take out $18,083 in student loans while working on their degree.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwestern Illinois College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the suburb of Belleville, SWIC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SWIC are $5,940 per year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from SWIC carry an average student debtload of $8,405.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Macomb Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Warren.
Macomb Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,680 in tuition and fees each year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Macomb Community College take out an average of $8,250 in student loans while working on their egree.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Macomb Community College also did well on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Delta College landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Delta College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of University Center.
Delta College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,100 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Delta College take out is $11,250.
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Madison Area Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison College is a large public school located in the city of Madison.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Madison College are $6,769 a year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Madison College take out $14,750 in student loans while working on their degree.
Madison College also claimed a spot on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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Glen Oaks Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the rural area of Centreville, GOCC is a public college with a small student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at GOCC are $6,408 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at GOCC take out is $7,750.
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With a ranking of #9, University of Akron Wayne College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the rural area of Orrville, University of Akron Wayne College is a public school with a small student population.
University of Akron Wayne College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,505 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at University of Akron Wayne College take out is $30,625. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $302.
Full Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Akron Wayne College Report
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Stark State College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Stark State College are $7,406 per year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Stark State College take out is $16,375.
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Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Cuyahoga Community College District is a large public school located in the large city of Cleveland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cuyahoga Community College District are $8,586 per year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Cuyahoga Community College District take out an average of $12,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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Schoolcraft College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Schoolcraft College is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Livonia.
Schoolcraft College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,574 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Schoolcraft College carry an average student debtload of $10,444.
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Washtenaw Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the large suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Washtenaw Community College are $5,856 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Washtenaw Community College take out $15,316 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the large city of Milwaukee, MATC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at MATC are $6,908 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from MATC carry an average student debtload of $12,250.
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With a ranking of #15, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the large city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State is a public school with a medium-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Cincinnati State are $9,090 a year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Cincinnati State carry an average student debtload of $14,666.
On top of its placing in our value ranking, Cincinnati State also did well on our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Black Hawk College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs. Located in the small city of Moline, BHC is a public college with a small student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at BHC are $7,650 per year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at BHC accumulate an average of around $7,500 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #16, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. LLCC is a small public school located in the midsize city of Springfield.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at LLCC are $10,068 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from LLCC take out $11,055 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Ivy Tech Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #18 on the list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public college with a very large student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Ivy Tech Community College are $8,927 a year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Ivy Tech Community College take out is $10,905.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Ivy Tech Community College also is in the top 20% of our Best Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking.
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With a ranking of #19, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the rural area of Marion, IWU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at IWU are $9,239 per year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from IWU carry an average student debtload of $25,511.
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Lakeland Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. It came in at #20 on the list. Lakeland is a small public school located in the large suburb of Kirtland.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lakeland are $8,975 per year. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities majors at Lakeland take out an average of $11,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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With a ranking of #21, Mott Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. MCC is a medium-sized public school located in the city of Flint.
MCC undergraduate students pay an average of $7,091 in tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at MCC accumulate an average of around $17,081 in student debt.
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With a ranking of #22, Sinclair Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the medium-sized city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a public college with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Sinclair Community College are $8,076 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Sinclair Community College take out $12,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Monroe County Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Monroe County Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Monroe.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Monroe County Community College are $7,760 per year. On average, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Monroe County Community College take out $13,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Owens Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Owens State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Owens State Community College are $9,782 per year. After completing their degree, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates from Owens State Community College carry an average student debtload of $20,000.
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With a ranking of #25, Edison State Community College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for liberal arts / sciences and humanities students. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison Community College is a public college with a small student population.
Edison Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $7,626 in tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that liberal arts / sciences and humanities majors at Edison Community College take out is $14,306.
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These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Value Liberal Arts & Humanities Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove, IL |
| 28 | Elgin Community College | Elgin, IL |
| 29 | Henry Ford College | Dearborn, MI |
| 30 | Kalamazoo Valley Community College | Kalamazoo, MI |
| 31 | Ohio University - Eastern Campus | Saint Clairsville, OH |
| 32 | Marion Technical College | Marion, OH |
| 33 | Shawnee Community College | Ullin, IL |
| 34 | Clark State Community College | Springfield, OH |
Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Colleges by State
Explore the best liberal arts / sciences and humanities schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 3,815 |
| Michigan | 9,711 |
| Ohio | 11,432 |
| Illinois | 18,292 |
| Wisconsin | 2,376 |
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Majors Related to Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts General Studies | 556,813 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Visual & Performing Arts | 149,215 |
| English Language & Literature | 54,635 |
| Foreign Languages & Linguistics | 33,333 |
| Theology & Religious Vocations | 27,459 |
| Philosophy & Religious Studies | 19,993 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 26 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Jacques Sablet (Switzerland, Morges, 1749-1803).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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